Her expression hardens just slightly.
“You don’t get to decide that.”
“I do when it affects how you operate.”
“And I’m operating just fine.”
“You’re not,” I say. “You’re adjusting.”
A beat.
“Deliberately.”
That lands.
Because she knows I see it.
Because I always see it.
Her voice drops.
Lower.
More controlled than before.
“You’re reading into this.”
“No,” I say evenly. “I’m reading you.”
Silence.
Sharp now.
She looks away first.
That’s when I know I’m right.
Scout Fallon doesn’t break eye contact—
Unless there’s something she doesn’t want seen.
I step around the table.
Close the distance.
Not aggressively.
Not for show.
Because this isn’t a team conversation anymore.
This is us.
“Look at me,” I say quietly.
She does.
Slower this time.
